Attributes

In addition to the base stats, there are many other factors in combat.

Hitroll And Damroll

Hitroll (HR) will affect the possibility of a successful strike against a target. The higher the hitroll, the more often the strike.

Damroll (DR) will affect how much damage is done with a successful blow against the target. The higher the damroll, the greater the damage done.

These are only two of many factors invovled in a chance to hit (including level of the player vs level of opponent, compared stats, involved skills, etc).

Armor Class

Armor class helps reduce damage taken by hits.

Your armour class is determined by four numerical values, representing your protection against pierce, bash, slash and exotical/magical attacks. The higher the value is, the more protection you have.

Many spells and skills and, most importantly, items, will affect your ac. The benefit you get from armor is also partly determined by your level and your armor rating (the value shown in score) is based on what is considered an appropriate maximum armor class for that level. So, if you have a good amount of AC at level 10 but then get to level 100 without taking advantage of the extra armor that is available, that same armor will not be as effective at level 100 because you need a higher amount to protect you adequately. If this is confusing, just follow the general rules that the more armor class you can get the better.

Wear positions also affect the usefulness of armour type items; do not expect an excellent pair of shades to make up for a lousy set of torso protection.

Saves

Each time a spell is cast against you, you make a 'saving throw' to resist the effects of the spell. Coupled with a comparison of stats between you and the casting player/monster, you may take less damage or completely resist a spell's effect. This is all done internally; you will not see the results of the saving throw, only whether or not the spell affected you.

For those used to lower saves being better, the mechanics have changed here on Aardwolf to reduce confusion; higher values mean a better chance at succeeding on a saving throw.

Hitpoints, Mana and Moves

Hit points (HP) are the life-blood of your character. You lose hit points as you are hit by things (mobs, players, etc). If you reach 0 hp, you are incapacitated. You will lose hp until -10, when you die, either from a mob attacking you again, or from slowly bleeding to death. You will be unable to interact in the room, but can still use other channels to call for help. If someone can get to you in time to heal you before you die, consider yourself lucky for cheating away the reaper!

Mana (MN) is the magical power within each person. Mana is used to cast spells and harness magical energy. Casting spell (successful or not) will take away from mana; if you do not have sufficient mana for a spell, you will no longer be able to cast it.

Moves (MV) are a measurement of your vitality. They are required to move from room to room, and sometimes used for complex combat tenchniques.

You will usually recover hit points, mana, and moves when the mud ticks. In some rooms, this may not be the case. Many factors affect the speed at which you regenerate - what you are doing (e.g., sleeping in a comfy room with a bed and fireplace vs fighting a monster), how hungry/thirsty you are, and even certain class skills and magical objects.